If you have an original DS or DS Lite, you can use a flashcart (like an R4 card) with a .nds ROM. However, the DSi-enhanced features may not work correctly.
This is the more common (and superior) version found in ROM archives. It was repackaged for the 3DS eShop. The Legend Of Zelda Four Swords Anniversary Edition Rom
Beware of fakes: Many sites promoting a "Zelda Four Swords GBA ROM" are lying. The original GBA game (multiplayer only) is not the Anniversary Edition. Always ensure the filename includes "Anniversary" or "DSi/3DS." If you have an original DS or DS
To understand the value of the ROM, one must first understand the game’s strange origin. Four Swords originally debuted in 2002 as a multiplayer-only side mode included with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the Game Boy Advance. It required two to four players, multiple link cables, and multiple cartridges—a logistical nightmare. This is the more common (and superior) version
In 2011, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo released Four Swords Anniversary Edition exclusively for the Nintendo DSi (via DSiWare) and later for the Nintendo 3DS eShop. This version was a massive overhaul:
After that promotional window, Nintendo continued to sell it for $4.99. However, in 2014, Nintendo quietly delisted the game from the 3DS eShop. When Nintendo closed the DSi Shop in 2017 and then the 3DS/Wii U eShops in 2023, Four Swords Anniversary Edition became completely unavailable for new purchase.
Note: The game requires the emulator to support DSi-exclusive features. DeSmuME may have graphical glitches in the Realm of Memories.
